City Council violates own policy

The council waived fees for a festival that won’t be held on city property.

Published: Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 4:18 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 11:48 p.m.

The Ocala City Council voted Tuesday to ignore its Community Sponsorship Policy by waiving $1,990 in fees for the Fine Arts For Ocala arts festival, to be held Oct. 23-24 at the McPherson Government Complex.

But on Tuesday, after her motion to give FAFO the permitted $2,000 cash award and deny the $1,990 in waivers failed to get support, she went along with the three members present and voted to support the waivers.

“When the motion dies for a lack of a second, you can kind of see the writing on the wall,” Heinbockel said Thursday.

Heinbockel has begun reviewing the policy and the way it was implemented during the last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, and will bring back recommendations to council for possibly tweaking the policy.

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Under the policy, approved by the City Council on Jan. 6, 2009, Spirit Programs like FAFO are eligible to receive a cash sponsorship of up to $2,000 provided, there is money in the budget. The policy also allows Spirit Programs to be eligible to receive up to $2,000 in fee waivers for those events held on city property.

Permit fees are not supposed to be waived.

FAFO is being held at the McPherson Complex, which is on county, not city, property.

Last year, FAFO received a $2,000 cash sponsorship as well as a fee waiver of $905. In addition, all permitting fees, including vendor, noise and tent permits, were waived.

This year, FAFO requested the $2,000 cash sponsorship and that all permit fees, which total $600, be waived. Those include vendor permits, noise permits and large tent permits.

In addition, FAFO asked for $1,290 in fee waivers, which includes the delivery and use of city bleachers, staging, trash cans and panel boxes, as well as the installation of three temporary electric poles.

Even though the program is not on city property, FAFO would have been eligible for an equipment fee waiver if it could arrange for delivery of the equipment on its own.

Seeing that the council did not support Heinbockel’s motion and was leaning toward making an exception to the policy for FAFO, City Manager Ricky Horst mentioned that the festival does have an economic impact on the community.

Councilwoman Mary Rich asked Horst if there was enough money in the fund to support FAFO’s request. Horst, whose current budget began with the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, said there were funds available.

Rich made the motion to approve FAFO’s request, and it passed 4-0. Councilman John Priester was in the hospital and absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

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Mayor Randy Ewers said the city hoped to move FAFO to Tuscawilla Park in the future, bringing the popular event back to city property.

Asked Thursday why she voted in violation of the sponsorship policy, Rich said, “I didn’t realize it was against the policy.”

But the information was clearly spelled out by city staff in the meeting agenda packet.

“I looked at the packet,” Rich said. “I might have overlooked that or something. I didn’t intend to blatantly violate it.”

Rich questioned why the staff would allow a violation to come before council.

Horst said if city staff does not present the requests, event organizers come to council meetings and ask directly.

“Historically, it seems to have been a pattern,” Horst said. “Sometimes it takes time to break out of historical patterns.”

Council President Kent Guinn said he voted for the FAFO waiver because “it’s a great event.”

“I’m sure there’s a policy that says we don’t have to follow the policy if we don’t want to,” Guinn said.

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Council has waived the policy in other instances throughout the year.

Organizers of the Cal Ripkin World Series asked for a $5,000 sponsorship this year and the council approved it.

Horst said the additional funds awarded are taken from a separate council account. This year that account contains $13,000.

Some petitioners do not get all they request. Council awarded the Council of Hope a $2,000 sponsorship, but denied the request to cover equipment fees and support services.

Heinbockel has concern about the practice. She said people who know about the sponsorships take advantage of them while others who do not raise their own money.

“You can’t sponsor everything,” Heinbockel said. “It’s a matter of how to do that and how to determine which events warrant city sponsorship and which do not. That’s what I’m trying to figure out and work through.”

<p>The Ocala City Council voted Tuesday to ignore its Community Sponsorship Policy by waiving $1,990 in fees for the Fine Arts For Ocala arts festival, to be held Oct. 23-24 at the McPherson Government Complex.</p><p>It also awarded FAFO, a juried art show now in its 44th year, a $2,000 sponsorship, which is permitted under the policy.</p><p>This is not the first time the council has violated its own policy.</p><p>Councilwoman Suzy Heinbockel repeatedly has questioned the policy and the inconsistencies in the way the council administers it, and has been fairly steadfast in voting against violations.</p><p>“If you don't follow your policy, you basically don't have a policy,” Heinbockel said.</p><p>But on Tuesday, after her motion to give FAFO the permitted $2,000 cash award and deny the $1,990 in waivers failed to get support, she went along with the three members present and voted to support the waivers.</p><p>“When the motion dies for a lack of a second, you can kind of see the writing on the wall,” Heinbockel said Thursday.</p><p>Heinbockel has begun reviewing the policy and the way it was implemented during the last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, and will bring back recommendations to council for possibly tweaking the policy.</p><p><center>■ ■ ■</center></p><p>Under the policy, approved by the City Council on Jan. 6, 2009, Spirit Programs like FAFO are eligible to receive a cash sponsorship of up to $2,000 provided, there is money in the budget. The policy also allows Spirit Programs to be eligible to receive up to $2,000 in fee waivers for those events held on city property.</p><p>Permit fees are not supposed to be waived.</p><p>FAFO is being held at the McPherson Complex, which is on county, not city, property.</p><p>Last year, FAFO received a $2,000 cash sponsorship as well as a fee waiver of $905. In addition, all permitting fees, including vendor, noise and tent permits, were waived.</p><p>This year, FAFO requested the $2,000 cash sponsorship and that all permit fees, which total $600, be waived. Those include vendor permits, noise permits and large tent permits.</p><p>In addition, FAFO asked for $1,290 in fee waivers, which includes the delivery and use of city bleachers, staging, trash cans and panel boxes, as well as the installation of three temporary electric poles.</p><p>Even though the program is not on city property, FAFO would have been eligible for an equipment fee waiver if it could arrange for delivery of the equipment on its own.</p><p>Seeing that the council did not support Heinbockel's motion and was leaning toward making an exception to the policy for FAFO, City Manager Ricky Horst mentioned that the festival does have an economic impact on the community.</p><p>Councilwoman Mary Rich asked Horst if there was enough money in the fund to support FAFO's request. Horst, whose current budget began with the new fiscal year on Oct. 1, said there were funds available.</p><p>Rich made the motion to approve FAFO's request, and it passed 4-0. Councilman John Priester was in the hospital and absent from Tuesday's meeting.</p><p><center>■ ■ ■</center></p><p>Mayor Randy Ewers said the city hoped to move FAFO to Tuscawilla Park in the future, bringing the popular event back to city property.</p><p>Asked Thursday why she voted in violation of the sponsorship policy, Rich said, “I didn't realize it was against the policy.”</p><p>But the information was clearly spelled out by city staff in the meeting agenda packet.</p><p>“I looked at the packet,” Rich said. “I might have overlooked that or something. I didn't intend to blatantly violate it.”</p><p>Rich questioned why the staff would allow a violation to come before council.</p><p>Horst said if city staff does not present the requests, event organizers come to council meetings and ask directly.</p><p>“Historically, it seems to have been a pattern,” Horst said. “Sometimes it takes time to break out of historical patterns.”</p><p>Council President Kent Guinn said he voted for the FAFO waiver because “it's a great event.”</p><p>“I'm sure there's a policy that says we don't have to follow the policy if we don't want to,” Guinn said.</p><p><center>■ ■ ■</center></p><p>Council has waived the policy in other instances throughout the year.</p><p>Organizers of the Cal Ripkin World Series asked for a $5,000 sponsorship this year and the council approved it. </p><p>Horst said the additional funds awarded are taken from a separate council account. This year that account contains $13,000.</p><p>Some petitioners do not get all they request. Council awarded the Council of Hope a $2,000 sponsorship, but denied the request to cover equipment fees and support services.</p><p>Heinbockel has concern about the practice. She said people who know about the sponsorships take advantage of them while others who do not raise their own money.</p><p>“You can't sponsor everything,” Heinbockel said. “It's a matter of how to do that and how to determine which events warrant city sponsorship and which do not. That's what I'm trying to figure out and work through.”</p><p><i>Contact Susan Latham Carr at 352-867-4156.</i></p>